Back in 2008, we were approached by Tamu Townsend who told us about her brother, Emru. Emru was diagnosed with Leukemia a year earlier, and Tamu was determined to do everything she could to find him a stem cell match. It was through her determined efforts -before our own- that policies changed, and big wheels turned. She remains an advocate today and reminds us, no one person has to do everything. It's our collective action that will transform the landscape.

Emru helped us see just how big the problem was. Though he found a match, and had a transplant, things did not work out. He is survived by his wife Vicky, and son Max.

By all accounts, Emru was an extremely versatile and accomplished artist, journalist, historian, developer and well...his eclectic pursuits are described elsewhere.